Information About the Virus MRSA

Information About the Virus MRSA

"Staph infections have been growing increasingly frequent; raising the question ""is MRSA contagious?"" among many people. The answer is yes, it is quite contagious. Being armed with the knowledge of how to protect ourselves from possible infection just might be the best cure.

MRSA is an abbreviated form of the infection's full name, methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus; a strain of the normal staph infection that has become resistant to the drug methicillin previously used to treat it.

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Virus MRSA

Often, this is because of continued use of antibiotics; bacterium actually becomes immune to the effects the antibiotic used to have.

There are two types of MRSA; contagious situations such as nursing homes, dialysis centers and hospitals filled with the elderly or those with weakened immune systems often see hospital associated MRSA infections, while basically healthy individuals in the general community become afflicted with community associated MRSA.

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MRSA, contagious through skin to skin contact with an infected person or an infected surface, can affect anyone in the community. There are certain conditions that make transmission of the bacteria easier, which include:

• Crowded environments
• Skin to skin contact on a recurring basis
• Cuts or scrapes on the skin
• Surfaces or items that have been contaminated
• Unsanitary or unclean conditions

Even people who do not have an active infection, but who are carriers of the MRSA bacteria through a contact with an infected person have the ability to transfer the bacteria to another.

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This situation is called being ""colonized""; still MRSA contagious even though there are no visible signs of the infection.

They can be receivers of the bacteria skin to skin contact, skin to infected surface contact and also through breathing in the bacteria, which has been expelled into the atmosphere through an infected person's cough, sneeze or breath.

One reason that the fact of MRSA contagious people who have no symptoms is so alarming to the medical world is that the bacteria can be transferred without knowing it is being done. Being colonized is a situation that can remain with a carrier for years.

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While in a relatively healthy person the MRSA contagious bacteria may cause no more than temporary discomfort, it can be life threatening to those with weak immune systems.

Prevention is the safest method of treating MRSA; keeping wounds covered, clean hands regularly, avoid contact with those who have open wounds, wiping down equipment used by others and avoiding shared items.

The answer to the question, ""is MRSA contagious?"" is an unequivocal yes. So contagious that it has the undivided attention of medical professionals, who see the staph bacterium growing more and more resistant to various antibiotics.

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Knowing how to protect yourself from MRSA is the best method known to keep you healthy and safe from being infected."

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